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Becky Riss' Comps Talk

March 26, 2012

The Physics of Sustainable Architecture:

Developments in Window Technology

Becky Riss

Nanotechnology and smart materials have significantly changed the way architecture functions and interacts with its surroundings. This presentation will explore the underlying physics of the developments that have revolutionized green building practices, with an emphasis on window technology. I will begin with a discussion of radiation, since solar radiation plays a large role in determining parameters for green building technology. Additionally, I will analyze solar transmittance through common single and double-pane windows. Finally, I will examine how thermochromic, electrochromic, and angular selective windows can make a building more sustainable.